Pneumatic action for organs



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. S. HUTOHINGS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR ORGANS.

Patented De c..27, 1887.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE S. HUTOHINGS, OF CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

"PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,356, dated December 27,1887.

Application filed July 1- 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. Huronnves, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Pneumatic Action for Organs, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in pneumatic actions for organs, and it is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of the organ, showing in section the pneumatic motor. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged vertical section of the pneumatic motor and chan nelboard. Fig. 3 represents afront view, as seen from X in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 represents a front view of the channel-board.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

In organs, and particularly in large ones, the

compressed air in the wind-chest and the valvesprings produces a great pressure on the valves, which has to be overcome by the finger-pressure upon the keys when the instrument is used. Such pressure on the valves is very troublesome, as it tires the performer and interferes materially with the touch and artistic execution of the playing on the instrument.

My invention relates to an intermediate pneumatic means for reducing the pressure on the keys, and it is arranged as follows: I

a is a portion of the organ-frame.

b is the key-sill, and c 0 represent the keys, as usual.

dis a lever, pivoted at (Z' and connected in its forward end to the inner end of the key 0 by means of a rod, d, as shown in Fig. 1.

e is the main bellows, and f is the air-duct leading from it to the air-box 9, located below the great organ-chest h.

g is an opening leading from the box 9 to the chest h, which opening is normally closed by the valve 9, held against its seat by the influence of spring as shown in Fig. 1.

t represents one of the organ-pipes arranged upon and communicating with the chest h by means of the usual slide, h, that forms a part Serial No. 208,043. (No model.)

of the stop movement of the organ in the ordinary manner.

It is an intermediate wind-chest arranged at a suitable place between the great wind-chest h and main bellows e, and said wind-chest k is in communication with the air-duct f by means of the pipe f, (shown in Fig. 1,) by which arrangement the air within the chest is is compressed by the action of the main bellows e.

K is the channelboard forming one side of the wind-chest 7:, as shown. Through the channelboard K are made a number of horizontal perforations, k is, provided on the in and outsides of the channel-board with valveopenings 70" k and valves L L, arranged upon a valve-rod, Z, the inner end of which is guided in bearing or bracket Z. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) The outer end of the valve-r0d Z is connected to the bell-crank lever Z, pivoted at Z to the outside of the channel-board K, as shown the otherleg of the said bell-crank lever Z" being connected by means of the tracker Z to the inner end of the lever d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The valve Lis normallyheld against the outside of the channel-board K by the influence of the spring Z". (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.)

Within the wind-chest it are located the bellows M M, of which M M are the expansive bottoms. TotheexpansivebottomMissecured an arm or bar, m, from which projects downwardly the tracker m, the lower end of which is secured to the lever n, pivoted at n. The rear end of lever n is connected by means of tracker N to the valve 9, as shown in Fig. 1. At or near the heel of each bellows M there is an opening, m, that is in communication with the rear channel-board opening, 7t, that is connected with the valve-perforation It by means of channel 7;. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 4.) It will thus be seen that when a key is not depressed the valve L will be held bythe influence of its spring Z in a closed position against the outside of the channel-board K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the inner valve,L, held open, as shown, by which the compressed air in chest is is caused to pass through opening k; channel 7;, opening 70', and bellowsheel perforation m into the bellows M, by which the latter is expanded and the valve 9 closed by the air-pressure in box 9 and the influence of its spring all as shown in Figs. 1

and 2. By depressing the key 0 the only rcsistance to be overcome is that of the small spring Z and in so doing the valve L is withdrawn from its seat on the outside of the channel-board K at the same time as the inner valve, L, is made to close against the inside of the said channel-board K, by which a direct communication is at once established between the interior of the bellows M to the outer air by means of the bellows-heel opening at, channel-board opening 70', channel 70 and passage is, causing the bellows to collapse and the expansive bottom M to swing upward, by which the lever 02 is rocked on its fulcrum and the valve 9 opened by the agency of the trackers-m N. As soon as the operator relieves the pressure on the key,the valve L is closed and valve L opened by the influence of spring Z, as shown in Fig. 2, causing the compressed air in chest 70 to enter the bellows through opening is, channel is, opening 70, and bellowsheel opening at, and thereby the bellows is again expanded and the valve 9 closed automatically by the air-pressure in box 9, aided by the influence of the spring g".

In the drawings I have shown the valve 9 to be opened by the collapse of the bellows; but,although this is preferable,such operation of the said valve may be accomplished by the inflationinstead of compression of the bellows,

it being only necessary to arrange the bellows outside of the chest k and locate thcbell-crank levers Z within said cl1cstthat is, only a mechanical reversion of the respective bellows and bell-crank levers relative to the windchest 70.

I desire to state that I do not wish to confine myself to the precise arrangement of parts and details, as shown and described; but

What I wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim, is-- A pneumatic action for organs in which are combined the pneumatic wind-chest 7c, the valves L L in operative connection with the organ-keys, the channel-board K, divided into separate compartments or small air-chambers 7c 703, each having therein valve-openings kk a series of pneumatic bellows, M M, each hav-' ing at or near the heel thereof an opening, m", communicating with the openings 70" k, the trackers m m in operative connection with the said bellows, and the valves in the grand organehest, all arranged for operation together, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 9th day of July, A. D. 1886.

GEORGE S. HUTOHINGS.

Witnesses:

ALBAN Annninr, HENRY CHADBOURN. 

